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Design and Fabrication of Ergonomic Auxiliary Handles for Agricultural Tools

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  2025 ASABE Annual International Meeting  2500900.(doi:10.13031/aim.202500900)
Authors:   Felix Michael Oguche, Suffix (Jr., III, etc.), Jianfeng Zhou, Suffix (Jr., III, etc.), Karen E Funkenbusch, Suffix (Jr., III, etc.), Marcia C Shannon, Suffix (Jr., III, etc.), Noel Aloysius, Suffix (Jr., III, etc.), Teng Teeh Lim, Suffix (Jr., III, etc.)
Keywords:   Ergonomics, Auxiliary Handle, Agricultural Tools, Women Farmers, Finite Element Analysis, RULA, REBA, Simulation, Biomechanics, Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

Abstract. Ergonomic design of hand tools plays a vital role in reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among agricultural workers, particularly women, who often face challenges using tools designed around male anthropometry. This study presents the design, simulation, and evaluation of two ergonomic auxiliary handle prototypes for shovels and pitchforks. Each prototype incorporates a Natural Inward Curvature (NIC) D-grip, adjustable height settings in 20 mm increments, and preset lift angles (16°, 32°, 48°) to align better with women‘s body mechanics. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), both prototypes were evaluated for static structural integrity and fatigue durability. Prototype 1 demonstrated lower stress concentrations (32 MPa vs. 45 MPa) and higher fatigue life, 2.1 million vs. 1.1 million cycles, compared to Prototype 2, due to its stiffer dual-rotation design. Pose simulations were conducted to assess joint angles during tool use, focusing on wrist, trunk, elbow, and shoulder postures. These angles were used to estimate ergonomic risk scores using RULA and REBA. Results indicated reduced trunk flexion and wrist deviation with both ergonomic prototypes, yielding lower risk scores relative to conventional tools. Prototype 1 was more biomechanically stable, while Prototype 2 offered greater motion adaptability. This simulation-based validation supports the conclusion that adjustable, user-centered auxiliary handle designs can improve biomechanical safety and usability for women farmers, offering a practical solution for reducing physical strain in repetitive agricultural tasks.

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